Electrical disconnect



July 1l, 1961 Q. BERG ELECTRICAL nrscoNNEcT Filed March 14, 1957 INV ENTOR. z/ewz'?? ,Ee BY @M75/1h@ #Trav/VIK?.

lStates Patent O Y 2,992,404 A ELECTRICAL DISCONNECT Quentin Berg, 1550 Brandt Ave., New Cumberland, Pa. Filed Mar. 14, 1957, Ser. No. 646,139 9 Claims. (Cl. 339-256) This invention relates to electrical disconnects and has particular reference to a novel and improved construction of the socket element.

This application is a continuation-impart of my prior application Serial No. 546,091, filed November 10, 1955, and now abandoned, for Electrical Disconnect.

Electrical disconnects of the type to which the invention relates comprise a slot type socket for telescopical-ly receiving and yieldably `holding a blade type connector. Socket elements of disconnects now in use are not entirely satisfactory for various reasons. In some cases the design is such that the insertion of the blade type connector element is diicult. In other cases the gripping or lock-ing action between the two elements when assembled is poor, thus producing undesirable electrical performance characteristics. Lack of uniformity of quality has also been frequently encountered in connection with disconnects of this type now in use.

The present invention is directed to a simple construction for socket' elements of disconnects which eliminate euch objections and diliiculties frequently encountered in disconnects now in use and which construction lends itself to uniformity in construction and economy in the cost `of production. l

A principal object of the invention therefore is to provide a new `and improved construction for socket elements of disconnects.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and may be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, which by wayV of illustration show preferred embodiments of the invention and what I now consider to be the best mode inwhich I have contemplated applying the principles of my invention. Other embodiments ofthe invention may be used without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings: r FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a strip of disconnect "relements illustrating the construction thereof and some of the steps in the manufacture thereof; i FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of a disconnect socket element;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional'view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the staggered line '4 4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a disconnect showing the complete assembly thereof; p i

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and' l FIGURE 7 is a perspectiveview of a modified form r of the invention.`

l As shown in FIGURE 5, the disconnect comprises a blade type connector 10 and la slot type socket 12, the

. the socket 28.

latter being adapted for telescopically receivingl and yieldl ably holding the connector 10. The socket element 12 includes integral provisions inthe form of prongs V14 for clamping `a wire type of current conductor 16 to thedisconnect element 12 and provisions in the form of prongs 18 for clamping around the insulation 20 of the conductor 16. l

Preferably the socket elements 12 are `made from an integral strip of `thin sheet metal such as brass which is subjected to la series ofdie operations so as to form a l, which shows a complete or preformed element connected to an incomplete element 12A.

Each socket element comprises a generally at rectangular sheet metal portion 22 which -is diagonally twisted or racked so as to form a diagonal bend or crest 24 between the corners thereof. I have found that good results are obtained Where a twist of about 4 is given the portion 22. Integral laterally projecting flanges or ears 25 are bent generally normal to the portion 22 and are then bent back toward each other in spaced relation with the portion 22 so that the overhanging ends 26 are spaced from the portion 22 and form the opposite Side of the Socket indicated generally at 28. Thus the socket 28 iS defined by a pair of channels 29 which are interconnected by the portion 22.

One end of the socket 28 denes an entrance end 30 thereto through which the blade type connector 10 may be inserted into the socket 28, the side edges of the blade 10 being received in the channels 29. The crest of the bend 24 projects into the socket 28 and forms a spring which cooperates with the opposite side of the socket provided by the ends 26 to grip the connector 10 for yieldably holding such connector in the socket 28. The portion 22 may be peened or thinned to work harden it, thus providing a higher yield point and hence greater deilection or spring .action in the bend 24. Preferably the socket is provided with a detent 32 on the crest of the bend 24 for cooperation with a similar detent 3'4 in the element 10 for locating the elements relative to each other in their assembled position. The ends of the laterally projecting portions 26 which are bent toward each other and `downwardly toward base portion 22 are inclined relative to each other, and channels 29 areskewed relative toeach other, lengthwise of the socket so as to increase the gripping action between the socket element 12 and the blade type connector 10.

Additionally, if the diagonally opposite` corners of the folded-over ends 26 are depressed, considerable additional spring action may be obtained thereby. In the present instance I have shown the corners 36 and 38 as being depressed. This not only stiens the ends 26` but also exerts a racking or twisting action on the element 10 about thediagonal bend 24. However, this deection of the ends 36 and 38 of the portions 26 may be omitted in some cases, particularly if the portion 22 is twisted an adequate amount. The twisting and work hardening of the portion 22 stiften the same and effect the skewing of the channels 29 While permitting yielding thereof when the element 10 is inserted in the socket 28, causing the element 10 to be twisted and gripped thereby `in This construction makes it possible to space the sides of the socket 28 so as to permit easy initial insertion of the element 10 in the socket 28. The vdetents 32 and 34 locate and lockV the elements 10 -and 12` in their assembled position and also serve to increase the gripping action therebetween. However, the detents 32 and 34 may be omitted if the bend 24 is sufficient to produce the same gripping action. However, the detents 32 and 34 produce a snap action which is n ot obtainable if the detents 32 and 34 are omitted. The type of locking action obtained between the elements 10 and 12 can be varied by controlling the clearance between theportions 22 and 26 in addition to the amount of the diagonal bend 24. More diagonal bend `gives greater snap action, while less clearance between the portions 22 and 26 gives greatstrip of elements 12 connected as illustrated' in FIGURE l er drag throughout insertion and extraction.

To facilitate insertion of the blade 10 in the socket 12, the latter may be provided with a guide flange 39 which projects downwardly below the plane of the portion 22 at the entrance end 30` of the socket, and whichltiange @cooperates the bladel() for guiding the same into..

otset from those in the portion 40 so that when the prongs 14v are`crimped around the wire 16 as shown in FIGURES vSand 6 the crests of the corrugations bearing against one side of the wire 16 are oiset from those on the opposite.. side, thereby eliminating pinching of the .wire which, would otherwise occur and, in addition,

providing a better grip ybetween the corrugations 42 and the lwire 16 as this arrangement will produce a pronounced'corrugation in the wire 16. The prongs 18 are wrapped and .clamped around the insulation 20 thereby tosecure the socket element 12 to the insulation20.

' vThe prongs 14 when clamped around the wire 16, as shown'in FIGURES'j and 6, cooperate with the portion 40' with which the prongs are integral to form a corrugated barrel or ferrule 43 inside of which the wire 16 is firmly anchored and tightly gripped. 'Ihe corrugation of such i barrel stiiens the same and the end of the disconnect, and also'compensates for variations in size of the wire `16, and'insures a uniformly good connection between such-wire and the disconnect. The corrugation of the barrel alsoin some cases permits the use of thinner stock. To -further stilen the disconnect element I provide a longitudinally extending corrugation or rib 41 in the metal stock 22 which extends between the socket proper and theferrule 43.

In the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 7 the coni* l structionlisessentially the same as that previously described except that they wall portion 50 of the socket which interconnects the channels 29 is offset from the channels`29 so thatthe socket is dened essentially by the channels 29. However, since the metal stock which forms the wall S0 is racked or twisted to form a crest 52 like the crest 24, it will be apparent that the channels 29 are not aligned, but actually are skewed with respect 4to, each other, as is the case, of the channels 29 in the ,g j previous modification. The skewed relation of the channels 29 has been found to beadequate usually to rmly retain the blade type connector 10 in the socket. The connecting portion -50 of the socket may be embossed to dene a detent 54 similar to the detent 32 and for .co-

operation withl the detent 34 in the spade 10 for locating the'spade 10 in the so cket of the disconnect of FIGURE ,7. The disconnect of FIGURE 7, like that of FIGURE 1, isV made from an integral strip of thin sheet metal, such as brass, which is subjected to a ser-ies of die operations so'as to form a strip of disconnect elements, one of which is shown in FIGURE 7. The offset relation of the wall 50 with the channels 29 has been found to add additional stiffness to the disconnect.

Because of the eicient use of the metal in the construction herein disclosed, -it is possible to use substantially less metal than otherwise required without a sacrice in the required strength or electrical efficiency of the element.

While I have illustrated and described preferred em- .bodiments of my invention, it is understood that these are with, said. bend thereacross vand. having integral laterally projecting portions the ends 4,of which are ilat and bent toward each other in spaced generally parallel relation with a respective adjacentportion of said one side so as to form opposed `channels which are disposed in skewed relation with'one another 'and the 'oppositeside of sald, socket, said socket at oeendthereof beingr formed to dene an open entrance through which; the blade type connector may be inserted into said socket, the crest of said bend projecting into saidfsocket and cooperating with vthe skewed channels to grip an-v inserted blade type connector for yieldably holding the balde type connector in said socket, said socket'being provided with' a detent on the .crest of said bend, the at ends ofsaidlaterally projecting portions which. are .bent-.toward eachother being free and inclined relative tosaid one sideandttoeach-` other lengthwise of said socket, and said-connector having other intef gral provisions for connecting a current conductor thereto. 2. An electrical connector element comprising-an inte-A `gral piece of thin sheet metal formed to providea slot type socket for telescopically receiving and yieldably hold@ ing a blade type connector, said `elementcomprising a flat rectangular sheet metal portion which is twisted to form a diagonal bend thereacross, said portion forming one side of said socketA with said bend thereacross--and having integral laterallyprojecting vportions the end of each of which is flat and bent in spaced generally parallel i relation with a respectiveY adjacent-portion of said rectan- -gular portion so asl to` form lthe opposite side 'of said socket, said' sides of said socket sat4 one end `thereof-being formed to define an open kent-rance through which theblade type connector may be 4inserted intosaidsocket, said diagonal bend projecting into saidsocket and'cooperatin'g -withf'theopp'osite side thereof to grip an-inserted blade type connector for yieldably holdingthe blade type con-1 nector in said socket. Y s "3l A connector element according to 'claim 2 wherein the ends lof said laterally projecting portions are free and inclined relative to saidone side and to said twisted portion lengthwise of said socket. 4; An electrical connector element comprising an inte# gral piece of thin sheet metal formed to provide av slot type socket for telescopica-ily receiving and yieldably holding a blade-type connector, said -elementcomprising afla't rectangular-sheet metall-'portion which is twisted to formbend thereacross, said portion forming one side ofsaid socket and having a pair of integrallat'erall'y inwardly fr projecting wing portions dening theopposite -side of said socket, thefree ends -of said wing portionsbeingben-t toward each other in spaced relation with said rectangular portion-and the's'aidends of said wing portions -be ing skewed relative to each other, said sidesf of saldil socket 1 at oneen'd thereof being formed'to definean open entrance through ywhich the blade ytype'counectornrnay'be inserted' into said socket, the crest `of said bend projecting into said socket between the free ends ofgsaidwin'g'por tions and cooperating therewith to grip aninserted bladetype connector for yieldably holding theblade-type c011-` nector in said socket. f f t 4 5. A nvelectrical connector element "comprising an inte'- gral pieceof sheet metal formed to provide a slot .type socket for telescopically receiving and yieldably holding a `blade" conr 1ec`tor, said element comprising a generally rectangular sheet metal portion forming one side of said socket and having integral laterally projecting portions the free ends of which are at and -exible and project toward each other in spaced lrelation with a respective adjacent portionof said one side so. as to form the opposite side of said socket, said sides ofsaid socket at onevend there 'of being formed to define an open entrance through .which the `blade connector maybe inserted into said socket, said f onegside of `sail socket .having a detent andcooperating vt/'ithfthey opposite side'l of the Vsocket to frictionally grip an inserted blade connector foryieldably trictionally hold. ing the blade connector in said socket, said at ends of said laterally projecting portions being twisted relative to each other so that the free edges of said ends lengthwise of said socket are skewed relative to each other thereby to exert la twisting force on an inserted blade connector, the width of said socket throughout its length being substantially uniform.

6. An electrical connector element comprising an integral piece of sheet metal formed to provide a slot type socket for telescopically receiving and yieldably holding a blade type connector, said element comprising a rectangular sheet metal portion forming one side of said socket and having integral laterally projecting wing portions the ends of which are bent toward each other in spaced relation with said rectangular portion so as to form the opposite side of said socket and to dene a pair of spaced channels along the edges of said sides, said sides of said socket at one end thereof being formed to define an open entrance through which the blade type connector may be inserted into said socket, said rectangular portion having a detent and cooperating with the opposite side of the socket to position an inserted blade type connector in said socket, said channels being disposed in skewed relation with respect to each other for yieldably holding an inserted blade type connector in said socket.

7. An electrical disconnect comprising an integral sheet of metal bent to form a socket and a ferrule, said socket comprising a pair of spaced channels disposed in skewed relation with respect to each other longitudinally of the socket for gripping -a blade type connector inserted in said socket, and an integral portion continuously interconnecting said channels and said ferrule, and extending between the channels and longitudinally of the socket at least half the length of said channels.

8. An electrical disconnect as in claim 7 wherein said portion is formed to define an integral rib extending between said socket and ferrule.

9. An electrical disconnect as in claim 7 wherein said interconnecting portion is ofset from said channels.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,768,297 Schellenger June 24, 1930 1,995,115 Douglas Mar. 19, 1935 2,130,424 Grant Sept. 20, 1938 2,433,358 Garberding Dec. 30, 1947 2,523,465 Graham Sept. 26, 1950 2,552,392 Batcheller May 8, 1951 2,600,190 Batcheller June l0, 1952 2,744,244 Schumacher et a1 May 1, 1956 2,774,951 Kinkaid et al. Dec. 18, 1956 2,816,275 Hammell s Dec. 10, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 538,801 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1941 

